Dispenser of material from a mass



Dec. 20, 1955 G. H. PACKWOODLJR 2,727,656

DISPENSER MATERIAL FROM A MASS Filed Feb. 26, 195] 2 Sheets-Sheet l /A/ l EN To 1?.- GEOEGE H. PAC/(W000) Ja QTTOENEKS Dec. 20, 1955 Filed Feb. 26,

5. H. PACKWOOD, JR 2,727,656

DISPENSER OF MATERIAL FROM A MASS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent-O DISPENSER OF MATERIAL FROM A MASS George H. Packwood, In, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 26, 1951, Serial No. 212,769

6 Claims. (Cl. 222196) The present invention relates to a dispenser for delivering limited amounts of material from a mass thereof. As will appear, the dispenser may be used to dispense finely divided material or semi-liquid, or liquid material. The inventions involved are particularly useful in connection with the dispensing of soap.

In a dispenser for soap, and particularly powdered soap, there are several requirements. The first 1s that the dispenser shall dispense powdered soap every time the manual member is operated. This requirement mvokes various problems, including one of agglomeration or caking or packing of the powdered soap particles because the material is hygroscopic. Hence it is an object of the present invention to provide a soap dispenser that will dispense with every operation, regardless of the agglomeration of the material. This broad objective 1s 1n part accomplished by the fact that there is an agltating means in the dispenser that agitates or jars the dispenser so that the agglomerates are broken up and the soap falls to the opening in the bottom of the dispenser. While th1s agitating means includes features that have been heretofore known, it will appear from the description to follow that there are improvements present in the construction of the present dispenser.

Another requisite of a dispenser of this type, regardless of whether it deliver dry or Wet material, is that it dispense metered quantities with each operation. The dispenser, therefore, must have some metering or valving means which is not operable to positions wherein unlimited amounts of the material may descend through the outlet at the bottom of the dispenser. A specific object of the present invention is to improve the metering means so that the outlet or discharge orifice is closed in both extreme positions of the operating means, and is so designed that there can be no unlimited discharge, even 1f the operating member is kept in an intermediate position.

.This objective must be accomplished in a manner satisfactory for wet as well as dry material, to attain the greatest utility of the present invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soap dispenser that has its structure arranged for quick adaptability to either the so-called one-hand or the so-called two-hand operation. The valve means of the present dispenser must be moved for the discharge of material. This valve is at the bottom of the dispenser, and regulates the opening of the discharge outlet. The associated parts of the discharge means are so designed as to be readily adapted to the connection therewith of an operating lever that extends out the side of the dispenser bowl, or to a depending element that extends out the bottom of the bowl. The invention also includes a particularly advantageous design of the laterally extending rocking operating lever.

Other advantages of the present dispenser will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the dispenser with the laterally extending operating member;

2,727,656 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 Figure 2 is a side elevation of the dispenser shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the dispenser taken at about to Figure 2, parts being cut away to show the attaching means for the dispenser;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section of the dispenser taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the dispenser adjacent the top thereof, and taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the upper part of the dispenser taken approximately on the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmental section view taken on the line 7-7 at the right side of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the operating lever;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the operating lever;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the plunger supporting bracket;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of that bracket; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a key for opening the dispenser.

The dispenser generally consists of a bowl member 15, having a removable cover 16. This cover normally may be locked in place by some convenient means so that unauthorized persons cannot open the dispenser. In the present case, a locking means is illustrated, together with a bayonet joint type of connection. The bayonet joint connection includes two diametrically opposed pins 17 and 18 that may operate in bayonet slots 19 and 20. By this arrangement, a twisting of the top will permit it to be withdrawn from the pins. Twisting of the top is prevented by the lock device that includes a leaf spring element 21 attached by rivets or other suitable means in the upper part of the dispenser. It has an outwardly extending projection 22 on its free end that passes through a suitable opening in the wall at the upper part of the dispenser and projects radially outwardly beyond the wall. There is a detent recess 23 struck outwardly from the flange of the cover 16 to receive the projecting end 22 of the spring leaf 21 so as to block the flange of the cover and hence the cover itself against arcuate or twisting movement on the dispenser.

Inwardly from the end 22 of the spring, the dispenser bowl has an opening 26 through it. Opposite this opening 26 the flange of the cover 16 has an offset portion 27 with a notch 28 therein. A key 29, having a handle 31} and an offset prong 31, is provided as shown in Figure 12. When the oifset portion 31 projects through the holes 28 and 26, it can project against the leaf spring 21 to force the point 22 out of the detent recess 23 to permit the cover to be twisted and to open the bayonet joints. However, such twisting movement would be obstructed by the key 29 if it were not for the fact that the offset portion thereof can be received between the upper edge of the dispenser bowl and the flange of the cover because of the offset portion 27. Another offset portion 32 in the cover may be provided to accommodate the rivet heads that attach the spring 21 to the upper edge of the dispenser bowl.

The lower end of the dispenser bowl has an inverted conical shape, as shown generally at 34, with a slight offset 35 and then a reverted conical depending skirt portion 36 that is open at its bottom. Preferably the bottom edge of the skirt portion 36 is further turned outwardly and beaded as shown at 37.

There is an intermediate cone 40 within the conical portion 34. It is shaped to fit within the first ofiset 35, then to have a further offset 41, followed by a downwardly extending and finally inwardly and downwardly extending portion 42 that ultimately terminates in an outward reverted conical portion 43.

3 An innermost cone 45 is inverted and fits within the first offset portion 41 of the intermediate cone 4%.

The intermediate cone, by virtue of the intersection of .the inverted conical portion 42 and the reverted conical portion 43, provides a lower orifice 47; and the inner most cone has a similarorifice 43 spaced above the orifice 47. The shaping .of the parts provides a material discharging chamber 49 between the innermost cone 45 and-the intermediate cone 41.

The dispenser bowl 15 is of course adapted to receive the material to be dispensed which can descend down the converging bottom walls to the orifice 48. The oifset arrangement of the conical portions provides for a smooth internal wall that presents no substantial obstruction to .the downflow of the material. This is important because soapy material may tend to bridge over it it is given a serious obstruction.

Discharge through the outlet is under regulation of a valve. This valve includes a stem 52 in the form of a plunger that is axially movable with respect to the bowl 15. It is preferably designed to have some mass to it, and it is desirably in the main of the diameter of the two orifices 48 and 47, so that it will have mass and will be capable of being formed into a suitable vaive. It should be capable of being inserted into the dispenser through the orifices from the underside of the bowl 15.

The plunger 52 is suspended in the bowl 715 from the .upper part thereof. To this end, the upper end of the plunger 52 is of a reduced diameter 53. This reduced portion provides a shoulder 54 at the upper end of the larger larger part of the plunger 52. The reduced portion passes through a strap member 55 that preferably is formed as a stamping, as shown in Figures and 11. The stamping has opposite ofiset portions 56 and 57 that provide a circular opening 58 to receive the upper end 53 of the plunger 52. A pin such as a cotter pin 59 :passes through the upper end of the plunger above the strap 55, there being an interposed disc or washer Gil of proper thickness to suspend the plunger with the valve, later to be described, properly elevated with respect to :the lower end of the bowl 15.

The ends of the strap 55 are bent oppositely as shown at 61. and .62, and are riveted at 63 to the side of the dispenser bowl 15. These connections of the strap are preferably firm, so that, when the plunger 52 reaches the ends of its stroke, the shoulder 54 may strike the lower end of the strap or the washer 6d may strike the upper end of the strap, to jar the same during each use of the dispenser. A suitable number of washers 64 may be knotted on the shoulder 54 to regulate the stroke upwardly of the plunger for a proper operation of the valve, as will appear.

The lower end of the plunger 52 has the valving portion thereon. This consists primarily of a cut-out groove 65 cut around the plunger 52. When the plunger is in its lowermost position illustrated in full lines in Figure 4, the groove 65 is below the lower outlet orifice 47. When the plunger is completely elevated, the groove 65 is above the upper orifice 48. The axial length of the groove 65 (i. e., its width) is no greater than the vertical distance between the orifices 47 and 48. But its axial length is greater than the thickness of the edges forming the orifices 47 and 48. Immediately above and below the groove 65 the plunger 52 is of uniform diameter. Such uniform diameter should continue downwardly at least as far as the groove 67, which is provided for a purpose later to appear.

The dispenser shown in Figure 4 is shown for optional operation by either of two means, so that is can be operated in the so-called one-handed manner or in the twohanded manner. For one-handed operation, there is a handle portion 68 projecting a sufiicient distance below the beaded edge 37 of' the skirt portion 36 to enable the valve to be elevated thereby. As will appear, upward pressure by the palm of the hand upon the handle portion 68 will elevate the valve to operate the dispenser.

The so-called two-handed operation is provided by a laterally extending operating arm 70. This arm extends through a notch 71 cut down from the top edge of the wall of the bowl 15, and has a finger receiving portion 72 that is formed by a stamping of a part of the material forming the arm 70.

Reference to Figures 10 and 11 will show that the supporting bar 55 for the plunger is notched, as shown at 73, which notch provides a fulcrum support for the arm 70. The arm engages this fulcrum support by means of a hook portion 75 that is formed as part of the stamping. This hook portion, as it appears in Figure 9, is flanked by two notches 76 and 77. The arrangement provides a stable support for the operating arm 70. The inner end of this operating arm 70 is turned in a generally horizontal position to overlie the strap 55, and is bifurcated as shown at 7 8 with the outer ends preferably rolled. This bifurcated portion 78 straddles the reduced upper end 53 of the plunger 52 .beneath the disc 6t), or the lowermost such disc when more than one is used.

The top may be permanently attached to the bowl by means of a chain 80 extending from the strap 55 to a spring-like element 81 attached to the cover 16.

If desired, the depending portion 68 of the plunger 52 may be cut or broken away at the groove 67, and reliance made wholly upon the operating arm 70.

The dispenser bowl may be attached to the wall by a suitable means, preferably one that does not permit removal of the bowl by unauthorized persons. In the present illustration, a bracket is generally illustrated at 85 for attachment to a wall 86 or to other appropriate support. The bracket has screws 87 attached to it and projecting outwardly from it. There may be recesses so that nuts 88 may bind the screws to the bracket. These screws can project through the wall of the dispenser bowl 15 where they may receive wing nuts 89 that can be removed only from the inside of the dispenser for removal of the dispenser from the wall. The principal securing means by which the bracket 85 is attached to the wall will be contained within the bracket so that they are not accessible until the dispenser is removed.

The operation of the dispenser is as follows:

The cover 16 can be removed by use of the key 29 which has its projecting pin-like portion 31 inserted through the holes 28 and 26 and pressed against the spring 21 to remove the point 22 thereof from the recess 23. The position of the key 29 under such circumstances is with the handle loop 30 downwardly below the flange of the cover 16. With the operation aforesaid performed, the cover 16 may be twisted slightly, the outstanding portion 27 on the cover passing over the shank of the key element 29 in this movement. Thereupon the notches 19 will permit the cover to be removed from the bowl 15.

The bowl 15 is then suitably filled with the material to be dispensed which we have heretofore illustrated as powdered soap. (It will be understood that other powdered material may be used or dispensed from this dispenser, or wet material may be dispensed, because of the arrangement of the valve as will appear.) The cover is returned to its closed position after the bowl is charged with the material to be dispensed.

When the dispenser is mounted on the Wall, the mass or weight of the plunger 52 causes the plunger to rest in its lowermost position in which the valve groove 65 is below the lower orifice 47. At this time, the upper orifice 48 is closed by the plunger 52 so that no material can descend through this orifice. In order to discharge material from the dispenser, the plunger is elevated. This may be done by upward pressure on the depending portion '68 or by downward pressure on the handle 72 of the operating lever 70. When the latter is used, the

.5 other hand or receptacle for the material to be dispensed is located below the skirt portion 36.

The total vertical dimension of the valving groove 65 is no greater than the vertical distance between the .two orifices 47 and 48. Consequently, when the valve groove 65 is within the orifice 47,the upper orifice 48 is still closed by the plunger 52.' Prior to or no later than the introduction of the upper part of the valve groove 65 to the upper orifice 48 the lower part ofthe plunger 52 closes the lower orifice 47. Thereupon, further elevation of the plunger to the position illustrated in dotted lines may open the orifice48 and will introduce the material to be dispensed into the valve groove 65. However, no more material may descend throughthe orifice 48 than can be contained within the chamber 49 and within the valve groove 65. a

The upward movement of the plunger is normally done with some degree of force, and, when the shoulder 54 or the upper shim or washer 64 strikes the strap 55, a severe agitation is given to the strap. This agitation is transmitted to the Walls of thebowl 15 to vibrate the contents of the bowl. Thereupon, any material that has tended to bridge over between the walls of the dispenser or between the walls of the dispenser and the plunger 52 is broken down, and the material flows freely to the bottom of the conical portions of the bowl.

A release of the plunger after it has been elevated as far as it will go permits gravity to cause the plunger to descend. It is preferable that the plunger may have considerable mass such as that indicated (and a typical plunger may be one made of steel with a total length of 8% inches more or less with a diameter of A; of an inch more or less). When the disc 60 descends to the point where it againrstrikes the operating arm 70, the flange portion of whichrests upon the strap 55, an additional jar is given to the strap and to the dispenser bowl 15 to further aid in breakingup any agglomeration of the particles. V

The discs 60 and 64 are provided in suitable number so that the valve groove 65 will be preferably just immediately below the lower orifice 47 when the plunger 52 is released; and approximately inv the position illustrated in dotted lines when the plunger is up.

The descent of the plunger will bring the valve groove 65 first past the orifice 48, during which time material may flow through the valve. groove 65 into the. chamber 49, but cannot descend below the chamber because the lower orifice 47 is closed by the lower end of the plunger. When the valve groove 65 descends so that it is adjacent the lower orifice 47, the material that has been within the chamber and within the valve groove 65 may be discharged falling downwardly. It will be seen that no more material can fall downwardly at this time than is contained within the chamber 49 in the valve groove 65 because the upper part of the plunger 52 closes the upper orifice 48 when the valve groove 65 comes within the orifice 47. Thus the valve meters the discharge.

With a fit of the plunger into the two orifices that is suitably close liquid or semi-liquid material may also be dispensed. Consequently, this dispenser is of greater flexibility than previous ones, since it may be used optionally with powdered material or with liquid material. Ordinarily, with powdered material, the fit of the plunger may have greater tolerance. With semi-liquid material, the tolerances used with powdered material are, generally speaking, quite adequate. Whatever material used, the discharge is always limited to the volume of the groove 65 and the chamber 49.

When the dispenser is used normally, the hand to receive the material dispensed is brought up beneath the dispenser. The descending material will not adhere to visible parts of the bowl of the dispenser itself, bacause the flare 43, being a reverted conical section, spreads away from the material descending by gravity. The lower slope of the groove 65 tends to deflect the material In the assembly of the dispenser, the bowl permanently connected with the strap 55, and the two conical inserts 40 and 41 are permanently located in place, as by spot-welding or the like. The operating arm 7t) is removable. The plunger is assembled with a suitable number of discs 64 to limit its upward movement to the proper amount, and is inserted through the orifices from the bottom until the reduced portion 53 extends through the opening 58. Thereupon the proper number of discs 60 and the cotter pin 59 are applied above the strap 55 so that the plunger is suspended in place with the valve groove 65 just below the lower orifice 47. Where the operating arm 70 is used, 'it is lowered in place with the bifurcated portion 78 beneath the disc 60, and its fulcrum portion introduced into the notch 73 of the strap 55. The handle portion 72 willproject outwardly. While there will be a slot or notch above the operating arm 70 in the dispenser wall, this is closed when the cover 16 is put in place, save only for the part through which the operating arm 70 extends. The released position of the arm is fixed by the resting of the flange portion 78 on the strap 55.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser of the kind described, a bowl to contain material to be dispensed, an upper bottom wall portion and a lower bottom wall portion in the bowl, the upper bottom wall portion being provided with an upper orifice the lower bottom wall portion being provided with a lower orifice,and disposed below the upper orifice, a valve member mounted for vertical movement in the orifices, the valve member having a valving recess in its surface of a vertical extent no greater than the vertical distance between the orifices, but greater than the vertical thickness of the walls forming the edges of the orifices, a first closure portion on the valve member below the recess of a size to fit through and effectively close the lower orifice, a second closure portion on the valve member above the recess of a size to fit through and effectively close the upper orifice, means supporting the valve member in the dispenser for vertical movements at least as great as the distance between the orifices whereby the recess may be moved from a position to open one orifice to a position to open the other, but with the respective closure portions preventing opening of both at once, the upper and lower bottom wall portions being shaped as follows: the upper bottom wall portion converging downwardly and inwardly, and then slightly downwardly and further inwardly to form a frusto-conical recess, then extending downwardly and inwardly to the top edge of the lower bottom wall portion; and the upper bottom wall portion comprising a separate frusto-conical member fitting into the frusto-conical recess aforesaid, and extending downwardly and inwardly to the edges forming the upper orifice, the bowl having its own bottom wall converging downwardly and inwardly to receive the upper bottom wall portion and support the same, and having a skirt portion depending below the said bottom wall portions aforesaid, the skirt being continuous from the bottom wall of the bowl.

2. A valve operating mechanism for reciprocably op erating a valve stem comprising a valve stem having spaced stops thereon to define a limiting reciprocable movement, a supporting means for said valve operating mechanism including a rigid member having an opening therein to engage the valve stem, a lever rockablymounted onlthe rigidmember with its inner end straddling the valve member, between said .stop means, means on the lever overlying'the rigid :member to limit downward rocking of the lever, said lever having its other end extending outside the supporting means for engagement by the user.

'3. A 'valve operating mechanism for reciprocably operating a valve stem comprising a valve stem with one end extending through a support means, said supporting means including a'rigid member adapted to limit the reciproca'ble movement of said valve stem, a lever rock- 'ably mounted on the rigid member and having an end portion extending to the valve stem and engageable -therewith to lift 'thevalve stem, the lever having a part overlying apart of the support member to limit downward rocking of the lever, said lever having its other end extending outside the supporting means for engagement by "the user.

4. A valve operating mechanism for reciprocably operating 'a'valve stem comprising a valve stem with one end extending through a support means, said supporting means including a rigid member adapted to limit the reciprocable movement of said valve stem, a lever rockably mounted on the rigid member and having an end portion extending to the valve stem and engageable therewith to lift-the valve stem, the lever having a part overlying a part of the support member to limit downward rocking of the lever, said lever having its other end extending outside the supporting means for engagement 'by the user, the rigid member comprising a strap extending across the supporting means and mounted with its edge upward, said strap having two adjacent parts at its middle curved oppositely and outwardly to form a hole to receive the valve stem.

5. A valve operating mechanism for reciprocably operating a valve stem, comprising a valve stem having spaced stops thereon at one end to define a limit for the reciprocable movement, a support means including a rigid strap with its edges vertically disposed, said strap having two adjacent parts .at its middle curved oppositely .and outwardly to vform a hole to receive the valve stem between said stops, said strap being of a width less than the disthe Width of said straps .and the distance between said stops, a leverrockably mounted on'the rigid member and having an end portion extending to the valve stem and engageable therewith to lift'the valve stem, the lever having a part overlying a part of the support member to limit downward rocking ofthelever, said leverhaving its other end extending outside the supporting means for engagement by theuser.

6. In a dispenser of the kind described, a bowl to contain material to be dispensed, .an upper bottom wall portion and a lowerbottom Wall portion defining a chamber therebetween, the 'upper and lower 'bottom wall portions beingprovided with'upper and lower orifices, respectively, a valve member mounted for vertical movement in the orificesbetween a'lower first position and an upper second position, the valve member having a valving recess in its surface of a vertical extent no greater than the vertical height of said chamber between the orifices but greater than the vertical thickness of the walls forming the edges of the orifices, a first closure portion onthe valve member below the recess of a size to fit through and efiectively close the lower orifice, a second closure portion on the valve member above the recess of a size to fit through and effectively close the upper orifice, means supporting the valve member inthe dispenser for movement between said first and second positions a distanceat least as great as the height of said chamber betweenthe orifices, the valve recess being positioned entirely below the lower orifice in said first position and movable upwardly to at least opposite the upper orificein the second position, said first closure portion fitting'throughtsaid lower orifice, whereby the chamber is sealedfrom discharge when the valve member is in the second position and maybe discharged with material on the downstroke of said valve member from said second position'back to said first position.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,828 Reeve Feb. 10, 1925 1,993,401 Dudley Mar. 5, '1935 2,284,720 -Binon June 2, 1942 2,311,330 Dudley Feb. 16, 1943 2,357,387 :Dudley Sept. 5, 1944 2,450,155 Packwood Sept. 28, 1948 2,569,774 Packwood Oct. 2, 1951 

